Drums



3,029,679 DRUMS Fred J. La Londe, 517 6th Ave. S., Virginia, Minn. FiledDec. 5, 1957, Ser. No. 790,814 1 Claim. (Cl. 84-411) This inventionrelates to an improvement in drums and deals particularly with a meansof tightening the skin or drum head on the ends of the drum.

Drums are usually produced with the peripheral edge of the skin wrappedabout a flesh hoop of proper diameter to slide down over the outersurface of the cylindrical drum shell. The flesh hoop is drawndownwardly by engagement with a counter hoop which fits over the fleshhoop and abuts against the portion of the drum skin overlying the fleshhoop. The counter hoops of a snare drum are usually drawn together by aseries of angularly spaced clamping bolts or by other connecting meansconnecting the counter hoops. Thus, in usual constructions the drum heador skin is tightened by tightening the clamping bolts or otherconnecting means all about the periphery of the drum.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novelmeans of tightening the drum head through the use of a single pair ofclamping bolts. The counter hoop which may be combined with the fleshhoop is so shaped that when opposite sides of the hoop are drawndownwardly, the skin is stretched over the end of the drum shell.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a counterhoop having means for connection with a pair of clamping bolts onopposite sides of the drum. A shoulder or edge of the hoop which engagesthe skin is shaped in such a manner as to exert a greater pull upon theskin at points intermediate the clamping bolts so that as the clamps aretightened the sides of the hoop as well as the portions of the hoopengaged by the clamping bolts will draw the skin tightly over the end ofthe drum shell.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a counterhoop having a shoulder which is engageable with the drum skin which isnot in a common plane. This skin engaging shoulder is lower at points 90from the clamping means than it is adjacent the clamps. As a result,when the clamps are tightened, the drum head is first stretched to thegreatest extent at points intermediate the clamps and as the clampingaction continues the skin is stretched evenly and tightly over the endof the drum shell.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the fact that whenflesh hoops are used about the periphery of the skin, the shoulder onthe counter hoop tends to distort the flesh hoop out of a common plane,first exerting a stretching action upon the drum head at pointsintermediate the clamps and then gradually drawing the skin tightly overthe end of the shell about its entire periphery.

A feature of oneform of the present invention resides in the provisionof a combined counter hoop and flesh hoop which may clamp the marginaledges of the skin and eliminate the necessity of folding the marginaledge of the skin about the flesh hoop.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaim.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through an end of a drum showingthe construction of the combined counter hoop and flesh hoop.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the hoop, the section ofthe hoop being taken substantially 3,029,679 Patented Apr. 17, 1962 &6

along lines 22 of FIGURE 3, said hoop being shown removed from the shellportion.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the hoop as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through the upper portion of a modifiedform of drum.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through the counter hoop shown in FIGURE 1,the position of the section being at right angles to the section shownin FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the counter hoop 7 shown in FIGURES 4 and5.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view through another modified form ofdrum.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view through the counter hoop shown inFIGURE 7, the position of the section being at right angles to thesection shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged detail showing a portion of the clampingsurfaces of the rings marginally clamping the drum skin.

The present invention may be applied to drums of various types and inthe figures only one end of the drum is illustrated. Obviously, the drummay have two similar ends or may be formed in the manner of a kettledrum or may be of various other shapes.

The drum A illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings includes acylindrical drum shell 10 which forms the body of the drum. A combinedflesh hoop and counter hoop structure 11 is designed to encircle theshell 10 and to slide relative thereto. The hoop structure 11 includes abottom portion 12 which is of ring shaped form having two pairs ofprojections 13 extending from diametrically opposite sides thereof.These projections 13 are spaced to provide a slot 14 therebetween for apurpose which will be described.

As is indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the upper surface 15of the ring 12 is not on a single plane, this surface 15 being at ahigher elevation at points adjoining the ears 13 than at right anglesthereto. In other words, the sides of the ring 12 are concave along itsupper surface intermediate the clamps 13, the lowest point of concavityoccurring at from the position of the cars 13. The undersurface 16 ofthe ring 12 may he on a common plane as illustrated. When the undersurface 16 is on a common plane, the ring 12 is thinnest at points 90from the cars 13 and thickest at points adjoining the ears.

The ring 12 is provided with an upwardly projecting circular rib 17 inits upper surface, this rib 17 being spaced outwardly from the innersurface 19 of the ring. This rib 17 forms a male clamping member whichis designed to extend into a cooperable groove 20 in the undersurface ofthe upper hoop portion or upper ring 21.

The ring 21 is provided with an upwardly projecting circular flange 22flush with its inner surface and this ring 21 is also designed to slidedown over the outer surface of the dnlm shell 10. As indicated inFIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, angularly spaced clamping bolts 23extend through the outer portion of the upper ring 21 and are threadedinto the lower ring 12.

The upper ring 21 is provided with a convex undersurface 24 which isshaped to fit the concavity of the up per surface 15 of the ring 12.Thus, the adjacent surfaces of the two rings are of the same shape andmay be clamped together around the entire periphery of the two rings.

The upper surface 25 of the upper ring 21 may be on a single plane inwhich case the depth of the ring is greatest at points at right anglesto the location of the ears 13 on the rings 12. If desired, the ring maybe of the same cross sectional size throughout its periphery in whichcase the portion of the flange edge 25 at right angles to the cars 13will project from the drum skin a lesser amount than the portion of theflange adjoining the clamping ears 13 when the ring is in place upon theshell 10.

The drum skin 26 is placed upon the ring 12 and the upper ring 21 isplaced above the skin. Clamping bolts 23 are theninserted through theangularly spaced apertures 27 in the upper ring 21 and are threaded intothe threaded apertures 29 in the lower ring 12, the bolts preferablypassing through the marginal edge of the drum skin. As the two rings aretightened together, the rib 17 will urge the drum skin into the groove20 of the ring 21 thus tending to stretch this skin tautly across thering. When clamped in place, the skin is not on a common plane but isdistorted, being highest across the diameter of the hoops between theclamping ears 13 and curving downwardly on either side of this diameter.

The drum shell is shown as having a pair of lugs 30 projecting radiallyfrom opposite sides of the shell. Internally threaded sleeves 31 areprovided with bifurcated ends 32 which straddle each lug 30. A pivot pin33 conmeets the bifurcated ends 32 of the sleeves 31 to the respectivelugs 30.

Clamping bolts 34 having bearing shoulders 35 thereupon are designed toengage in the slots 14 between the ears 13 with the shoulders 35 hearingagainst the upper surfaces of the lugs 13. The bolts 34 are providedwith a T-shaped upper extremity 36 or are provided with suitable knobmeans by means of which the bolts may be rotated.

In attaching the head to the drum, the head is placed over the end ofthe shell 10 with the ring 12 encircling the shell and the clampingbolts 34 are tightened, drawing the skin 26 over the end of the shell10. Due to the shape of the hoops, the portions of the skin at rightangles to the clamping bolts are first stretched across the end of thedrum and as the hoop is drawn downwardly the pressure graduallyincreases on portions of the skin nearer the Clamping bolts until theskin is finally tightened down against the end of the shell. Thisgradual increasing of the-tension on the drum head on opposite sides ofa diameter tends to stretch the skin more smoothly than would otherwisebe possible. The degree of concavity of the rings is a matter of choiceand need not be particularly great in order to obtain the resultdesired. For example, in a snare drum of ordinary size the lowest pointof the shoulder may be a quarter of an inch below the plane of thehighest portions of the shoulder.

In FIGURES 4, and 6 of the drawings a modified form of drum isillustrated, this drum being indicated in general by the letter B. Thedrum B includes a cylindrical drum shell 39 having a skin 40 drawnacross the end of the shell, the end of the shell being on a planenormal to the axis of the shell as in the previous construction. In thedrum B, the peripheral edge 41 of the drum skin is folded about theflesh ring 42, this ring being normally made of wood or similarmaterial. Drum skins are available on the market which are sold withtheir marginal edges folded about the flesh ring in readiness forapplication to the drum.

A counter hoop 43 encircles the upper end of the shell 39 and includesanupwardly projecting lip or flange 44 forming the upper surfacethereof. The inner surface 45 of the counter hoop 43 is provided with agroove 46 in the ring adjoining the lower surface 47 of the ring. Theupper surface of the notch 46 forms a shoulder 47 designed tov engageagainst the flesh hoop. As is indicated in FIGURES 4 and 5 of thedrawings this shoulder 47 is convex in form with the areas of greatestconvexity on diametrically opposite sides of the'hoop. The hoop 43 isprovided with pairs of projecting ears 49 on opposite sides thereof,these ears being spaced to provide a slot 5% thercbetween. The slots 5%are designed to accommodate clamping means which Will be described. Theears 49 project in a generally radial direction from the hoop at thepoint of least convexity.

The groove 46 is of proper size to accommodate the flesh hoop 42 and themarginal edge of the drum skin wrapped about this hoop. Lugs 51 projectfrom the drum shell 39 on opposite sides thereof and pivotally supportthe bifurcated ends 52 of internally threaded sleeve sockets 53.Clamping bolts 53 are threaded into the sleeves 53 and are provided withbearing shoulders 55 engageable with the uppersurfaces of the ears 49..T-shaped handles 56 or other suitable means are provided at the top ofthe clamping bolts by means of which the bolts may be rotated.

The operation of the structure illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 6 is ,verysimilar to that previously described. In attaching the drum head, theflesh hoop is engaged over the end of the drum shell 39 and forceddownwardly.

The counter hoop 43 is then applied with the slots 50 between the ears49 in position to accommodate the clamping bolts 54. The clamping boltsare then pivoted about their pivot connections 57 into the slots5 tl andthe bolts are tightened to draw the counter hoop against the flesh hoop.

As the shoulder 47 is drawn against the flesh hoolhit first contactspoints of the flesh hoop which are from the clamping means. As a result,the skin is first drawn taut across the drum in a direction atrightanglesto a diameter between the clamping means. Asthe clampingpressure is increased, the pressure against the flesh hoop on oppositesides of the first point of contact gradually increases until thepressure is applied entirely over the surface of the skin. Thus theproper tension may be applied to the skin by manipulation of a singlepair of clamping members and the skin is more smoothly stretched thanwould be normally possible. I a

In FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, I disclose a .drum C which issomewhat of a combination between the drum A and the drum B. The drum Cshown in these figures includes a cylindrical shell 60 terminating on aplane normal to the axis of the shell. The skin 61 is stretched acrossthis end of the shell, the marginal edges 62 of the skin being wrappedabout a fleshhoop 63. A counter hoop 64 is applied above the flesh hoop63 to apply clamping pressure thereto. The counter hoop 64 is providedwith spaced outwardly projecting ears 65 on opposite sides thereof whichare designed to accommodate clamping means which are indicated ingeneral by the numeral 66. As the clamping means shown are similar tothose previously described, they will not be described in detail.

As will benoted from these figures, the undersurface of the counter hoop64 is convex and forms a shoulder 67 which bears against the flesh hoop63. The areas of greatest convexity or the parts recessed to thegreatest extent below the portions of the shoulder adjoining the cars 65are at right angles to these ears or approximately 90 spaced from theears. As a result, as the counter hoop 64 is tightened into place, theflesh hoop will be distorted out of its normal common plane as in thearrangement shown in FIGURE 4. In other words, the structure shown inFIGURES 7 and 8 is practically identical to that shown in FIGURES 4through 6 with the exception of the fact that the bottom of thecounter-hoop forms the shoulder engaging the flesh hoop, leaving theflesh hoop exposed. In the construction shown in FIGURES 4 to 6, theflesh hoop is accommodated in the groove 46 and the upper surface 47 ofthis group forms the shoulder.

It will be seen that with this arrangement a gradual spreading of thepressure over the entire surface of the drum head is provided thusproviding a smoother and tighter drum head which can be adjusted intension by manipulation of a single pair of clamping screws.

As indicated in FIGURE 9, the surfaces of rings 12 and 21 which clampthe marginal edges of the skin may be provided with additional means forassisting in holding the marginal edges of the ring from slipping. Smalldiamond shaped projections 79 are provided on the mating 5 surfaces ofthe rings 12 and 21, with the projections of one ring being intermediatethe projections of the other ring. Alternatively, one surface may haveprojections 70 and the other surface may have opposed diamond shapedpockets into which the projections extend. As both surfaces would have asimilar appearance when viewed in plan, only one such surface isillustrated.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in drums, and while Ihave endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire'tohave it understood that changes may be made within the scope of thefollowing claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: 7

A drum comprising a cylindrical shell having an edge portion in a planewhich is substantially normal to said cylindrical shell axis, a skinhead overlying said shell in contact with said edge portion, a firsthoop encircling said shell and having contact with an inner surface ofsaid skin, a second hoop overlying said skin and said first hoop,clamping means interconnecting said hoops, at least two tensioning meansinterconnecting said hoops and said shell, said hoops having co-actingskin engaging 5 surfaces between said tensioning means which extendconvexly inwardly, whereby when said skin is clamped between said hoopsand tension is applied thereto said coacting surfaces will lie insubstantially a single plane.

10 ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS772,743 Oschatz Oct. 18, 1904 881,109 Cipar Mar. 10, 1908 15 889,762Converse June 2, 1908 899,488 Hemberger Sept. 22, 1908 935,841 Fife Oct.5, 1909 1,009,467 Bryant Nov. 21, 1911 1,049,090 Hoeft Dec. 31, 1912 202,485,985 Perry 1 Oct. 25, 1949

